Bus Breakdown
Last week I had my first bus breakdown. I was riding my normal #731 to home and the bus made a normal stop at the end of a previously empty bus stop. Then as if some silent command had gone out, 80% of the people on the bus suddenly got up and sped out the doors. I didn't really know what had happened since I knew they didn't all really mean to get off at this stop. I initially thought that the bus may have broken-down but I hadn't heard any announcement and there was the matter of the stubborn 20% who were keeping their seats.
A few seconds of thoughts brought some clarity to the situation: a) I felt comfortable with the stubborn people on the bus, they seemed happy with the situation while those rushing off the bus were scampering everywhere, and b) if this bus had truly broken-down, the other buses weren't going anywhere. From the last post, you know that the buses were parked with only inches between them. Since this bus wasn't moving, no other buses could move. They couldn't back up because of the bus behind them and other buses were just adding to length of the line (think of lemmings all going over a cliff). It was actually kind of amusing.
After a minute or two, I still wasn't sure if were broken down but even the stubborn folks were starting to leave the bus. I stepped out for some fresh air and suddenly everything became clear. People had gotten behind and were pushing trying to push it forward. Ahhh... something I can finally help with!! This would at least allow the other buses to get out. I helped push the bus the needed 5 feet forward and then got on one of the other buses to continue my journey home.
I don't think this would have ever happened in the US. The bus breakdown would have happened, but people getting behind it to push? Never...
A few seconds of thoughts brought some clarity to the situation: a) I felt comfortable with the stubborn people on the bus, they seemed happy with the situation while those rushing off the bus were scampering everywhere, and b) if this bus had truly broken-down, the other buses weren't going anywhere. From the last post, you know that the buses were parked with only inches between them. Since this bus wasn't moving, no other buses could move. They couldn't back up because of the bus behind them and other buses were just adding to length of the line (think of lemmings all going over a cliff). It was actually kind of amusing.
After a minute or two, I still wasn't sure if were broken down but even the stubborn folks were starting to leave the bus. I stepped out for some fresh air and suddenly everything became clear. People had gotten behind and were pushing trying to push it forward. Ahhh... something I can finally help with!! This would at least allow the other buses to get out. I helped push the bus the needed 5 feet forward and then got on one of the other buses to continue my journey home.
I don't think this would have ever happened in the US. The bus breakdown would have happened, but people getting behind it to push? Never...
posted by agoel at
8:51 AM
1 Comments:
Definitely wouldn't happen in the U.S. Liablity concerns, if not anything else -- if it did happen, half the people who helped push, plus a couple dozen who saw the pushing (or heard about it later) would shortly thereafter suffer a calamitous spinal injury...
P.S. Pharmaceutical companies should browse these newfangled "word verification" schemes for new product names. I got Cyxeban® this time (registered trademark symbol added by me). In fact, the image would even make a pretty good logo...
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